Regional plan amendment moves ahead with housing and flood‑resiliency updates

The Lamoille Regional Planning Commission’s regional plan committee reported steady progress on a regional plan amendment that prioritizes housing policy, updated land‑use terminology and flood resiliency.

Brian Levin, vice chair and regional plan committee lead, told the board the committee spent its recent meeting reviewing the housing chapter and expects to finalize committee comments in September so the full board can stay on track for an amendment approval timeline that targets November action by the board and public hearings the following spring.

Staff described multiple chapter updates: new housing targets to comply with Act 47 (HOME Act); land‑use section revisions to harmonize definitions with an updated future land‑use map; an expanded telecommunications chapter in collaboration with Lamoille Fiber Net; and a strengthened flood resiliency section that will incorporate recent data and a separate flood resiliency and recovery plan from the Northeast Kingdom’s economic development district. Megan (staff) stressed these maps and designations “do not replace your zoning” and are intended to inform state designation programs and municipal planning.

The board reviewed the proposed future land‑use categories (downtown/village center, planned growth area, traditional new settlement, transition/infill, resource‑based recreation, enterprise, hamlet, rural general, rural agriculture/forestry and conservation). Staff said some map areas remain “white” (to‑be‑determined) pending town input and parcel‑level mapping; town‑specific and village maps will be distributed during outreach meetings.

Next steps: staff and the regional plan committee will finalize committee comments in September, aim for board approval of working amendments in November, submit to the Land Use Review Board for preliminary review by year‑end, and hold adoption hearings in spring 2026.